"Five, four, three, two, one!" and everyone started jumping up and down heading towards the door. It was the start of summer vacation and we were heading to the cabin the guys had rented me for Christmas tonight. Two- Bit and I met up then found Steve, Johnny, and Ponyboy. We headed outside; I flipped down the stairs on our way out. Two-Bit drove us home. We were all packed. I had gotten a job during the school year so Darry and Soda wouldn't have to work this summer. I was so excited this was going to be the best summer ever!

"Lets go hurry up." I said when we got home to see Dally, Darry, and Soda packing the truck and Two-Bit's car.

"Excited much?" asked Soda and I brushed him off. Me, Dally, Ponyboy, and Darry were taking the truck. Soda, Steve, Johnny, and Two-Bit were taking Two-Bit's car.

It was a six hour drive and I could never sit still long and since I was so excited it made it worse.

"Could you have found a place farther away?" I asked Dally halfway through the ride.

"It'll be worth it" he said and I knew it would be.

So I wouldn't really classify the place a cabin, it was as big as a house! It had a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and a huge loft with six beds for us all to sleep. To get to the loft you had to climb up and ladder, and there was even a trapdoor.

We unpacked and it took so long we went to bed after.

"I love you Dal" I said lying in bed.

"Love you too"

"And I love this place- no socs, it's just so open."

"I know what you mean." He said. "And there's another surprise tomorrow." Suddenly I was wide awake.

"What is it?" I asked.

"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise anymore."

"Please, please tell me."

"No"

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?" then I made a puppy dog face.

"Not telling" he said.

"Come on" I said "You're so mean"

"Get used to it"

"Get nicer"

"Live with it"

"Just be nice and I wont hurt you."

"You couldn't do that in a hundred years."

"You wanna go?" I asked getting out of bed.

"Sure"

"Right now get your fat ass out of bed." I said nudging him.

"How about you get your fat ass in bed and shut up" said Steve. I hit him. "Ow, Dally I think she can hurt you." Continued Steve.

"You got that right" I said crawling back into bed. "I love you" I whispered to Dally."

"I love you more" he said

"No I love you more than anything else on the earth."

"I love you more than anything else in the galaxy."

"I love you more than anything in the universe."

"I love you more than it's possible to."

"I'll love you both more if you shut-up" said Two-Bit and we all laughed.

Before falling asleep I whispered "I love you the most."

The next morning I woke up earlier than usual, Ponyboy was the only other one awake, and I found him sitting on the back porch watching the sunrise. The sun rose and in the corn in the back field sparkled gold as the sky turned pink. By that time everyone was awake. We ate breakfast and showered and everything then Dally showed me the surprise he had been talking about.

He had rented horses for all of us and he told me he'd teach me to ride. "OMG!" I said giving him a hug then running and gently petting the one named "Spirit"

Dally taught me to ride all day. I only fell off spirit a gazillion times. I always lost my stirrup or the horse was bouncing too much then I'd accidentally pull the reigns to one side, then I'd lose my stirrup and fall. Dally was helpful and understanding he'd always jump off whatever horse he was riding and give me a boost back up. By the end of the day I was sore all over, my arms, legs, back, and my butt, especially my butt. After supper we all went for a horse ride. I fell, twice. I didn't understand how everyone else caught on so quickly.

When I crawled into bed that day I realized that I always took for granted how soft a bed really was. Then I rolled over, groaning in pain.

Over the next few days I gradually got better at horseback riding. It was lots of fun once you got good at in and was actually relaxing and calming.